Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on May 27, 2023 20:27:13 GMT
The rights to Queen’s catalog could soon change hands for an estimated $1.1 billion, according to several high-level music industry insiders.The British rock icons are reportedly in the early stages of selling their hefty catalog, Music Business Worldwide reports. If the deal goes through, it would mark the biggest single-artist catalog sale in history by far, more than doubling Bruce Springsteen’s $500 million sale of his masters and publishing catalogs in 2021. If it goes through, the cash will be split equally between the estate of Freddie Mercury and surviving bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. Several major music companies, including Universal Music Group, have been vying for the potential acquisition, along with private equity groups. One potential complication is the fact that Disney Music Group — which has a global distribution deal with Universal Music Group — currently owns the band's catalog in North America. There's no questioning the commercial success of Queen's discography, which comprises 15 studio albums, 10 live albums and two soundtrack albums. The band has sold 300 million records worldwide and notched nine Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including two chart-toppers, "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The band enjoyed a huge bump in streaming and physical sales following the release of the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which grossed over $910 million worldwide against a roughly $50 million budget. Queen Productions Ltd., the corporation owned by the band, posted record-high revenues of £72.77 million (approximately $89.84 million) in 2019, and £39.19 million (approximately $48.38 million) in 2021, ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-catalog-sale/With thanks to lucy for the heads up! 
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pg
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Post by pg on May 27, 2023 20:35:32 GMT
Oddly, this might mean LESS Flash rewrites for cleaning products.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on May 27, 2023 20:45:13 GMT
But could it mean more releases? It seems strangely coincidental with the 50th Anniversary of the Queen album. A copyrights refresh exercise, perhaps?
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Golden Salmon
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Post by Golden Salmon on May 27, 2023 21:36:32 GMT
Such obscene amount of money can only possibly mean they'll try and milk it to no end. If that means significant and regular releases, I'm in!
Didn't the 2011 remasters (with extras), "Queen Forever" (with 'new' tracks) and whatnot happen after that Island Records deal?
That said, can't wait for the next 300 Greatest Hits compilations!
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on May 27, 2023 21:54:02 GMT
I wonder if this includes the solo catalogues? Hopefully it won't cause a delay for the Star Fleet Box.
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Post by akirafish on May 28, 2023 0:50:18 GMT
Will Q+L have to pay to play their songs live, if they sell the catalog?
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pg
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Post by pg on May 28, 2023 9:22:23 GMT
But could it mean more releases? It seems strangely coincidental with the 50th Anniversary of the Queen album. A copyrights refresh exercise, perhaps? I would suspect that there is a cluse giving the sellers some sort of say in actual releases, and maybe a different level in terms of licencing. But I have no knowledge of the subject - it's just what I'd do.... |
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Post by dragonkiller on May 28, 2023 11:48:55 GMT
Greatest Hits Vol IV on it`s way.
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donovan
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Post by donovan on May 28, 2023 20:39:31 GMT
You don't pay a 10-figure sum and not squeeze every last drop of potential revenue out of it.
I'd consider a theory that Queen Productions has been keeping the vaults shut for just this reason.
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Post by badboybez on May 29, 2023 7:27:18 GMT
It’ll just mean more Greatest Hits releases
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pg
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Post by pg on May 29, 2023 10:14:34 GMT
You don't pay a 10-figure sum and not squeeze every last drop of potential revenue out of it. I'd consider a theory that Queen Productions has been keeping the vaults shut for just this reason. What, since 10 years before selling off your catalogue was even a thing? Prescient... |
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on May 29, 2023 12:58:51 GMT
Only a record company would be interested to buy their back catalogue. But why to bother?...
Queen have milked their catalogue since 1997.
Musical, tour musical, tribute band,adverts, tv shows, movies and dozen re-releases , special limited vinyls, compilations etc.
On the major platforms like itunes they have reached great amounts can it go any further? Same for streaming.
Touring will come to an end...
An investment needs to have potential.
Their studio albums will not give the money back with profit.
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pg
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Post by pg on May 29, 2023 16:20:32 GMT
Only a record company would be interested to buy their back catalogue. Not true. Private equity have been acquiring catalogues too. |
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Post by musicalprostitute on May 29, 2023 17:39:16 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc?
I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this.
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ted
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Post by ted on May 29, 2023 17:56:01 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc? I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this. The sale/'acquisition' has been announced on Blabbermouth today; it is stated within that the deal turns over ownership of Queen's songs from Disney to Universal in North America (U.S. and Canada) only, as the 3 living Group Members and Freddie's estate reportedly own equal shares in Queen Productions Ltd. which owns the Group's recordings outside of N. America.
Someone posted a comment below the article stating that the Group will not profit from the sale, as they don't have ownership of their recordings within the Jurisdiction that the sale is taking place.
Ted
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on May 29, 2023 17:59:36 GMT
Only a record company would be interested to buy their back catalogue. Not true. Private equity have been acquiring catalogues too. Yes they could. However I think for Queen their catalogue has been over squeezed the last 30 years. So whoever buys, can't do anything worse. Maybe it is for better. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on May 29, 2023 18:59:52 GMT
and we think they've prostituted the catalog advertising questionable products thus far.
now the hare is truly running.
Fat Bottomed Girls - toilet paper?
Save Me - almost any banking/finance
Hammer To Fall - Screwfix, Jewson, B&Q
One Vision - Specsavers
Who Wants To Live Forever - Simply Cremation
Sleeping On The Sidewalk - Shelter, homeless charity
Your My Best friend - Dog Food
Staying Power - Duracel
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on May 29, 2023 20:12:27 GMT
and we think they've prostituted the catalog advertising questionable products thus far. now the hare is truly running. Fat Bottomed Girls - toilet paper? Save Me - almost any banking/finance Hammer To Fall - Screwfix, Jewson, B&Q One Vision - Specsavers Who Wants To Live Forever - Simply Cremation Sleeping On The Sidewalk - Shelter, homeless charity Your My Best friend - Dog Food Staying Power - Duracel I wouldn't see any of them as I always skip through the ads!  |
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billy
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Post by billy on May 30, 2023 0:54:40 GMT
Someone posted a comment below the article stating that the Group will not profit from the sale, as they don't have ownership of their recordings within the Jurisdiction that the sale is taking place.
Ted
I don’t think that is accurate as I believe all the physical releases in the US by Hollywood Records state something to the effect of “Original sound recording made by Queen Productions licensed exclusively to Hollywood Records”. I feel Queen may be doing some estate planning similar to Mary with the Freddie auction (if that’s what she’s indeed doing...). |
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pg
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Post by pg on May 30, 2023 6:09:02 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc? I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this. Dylan, Springsteen, and Pink Floyd are among the artists that have also done this recently. In the short term, nothing seems to happen from a public POV. Behind the scenes, all royalty income goes to the investor instead of the writer / performer (the latter only if such royalties are included in the sale). It may well be that creative / licencing decisions are defined in the sale contract, and could therefore be different from artist to artist, but none of them have been willing to talk about it in detail that I've seen. Why not ask Brian? |
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Post by Brian's Wig on May 30, 2023 8:47:40 GMT
But could it mean more releases? It seems strangely coincidental with the 50th Anniversary of the Queen album. A copyrights refresh exercise, perhaps? Remember when they moved to Universal/Island back in 2010 (?) and Greg Brooks told us their (Universal/Island) Executive staff were really excited and that we should get lots of exciting Queen projects and how EMI handed over 4000 video cassettes full of live material etc etc? I'm going back to sleep now. Goodnight. |
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Post by primejiveusa on May 30, 2023 11:31:03 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc? I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this. The sale/'acquisition' has been announced on Blabbermouth today; it is stated within that the deal turns over ownership of Queen's songs from Disney to Universal in North America (U.S. and Canada) only, as the 3 living Group Members and Freddie's estate reportedly own equal shares in Queen Productions Ltd. which owns the Group's recordings outside of N. America.
Someone posted a comment below the article stating that the Group will not profit from the sale, as they don't have ownership of their recordings within the Jurisdiction that the sale is taking place.
Ted
OUCH if that's true. $1.1 BILLION and the members of Queen don't get a red cent of it? As you Brits say..."Blimey.". It reminds me of how Brian said he's actually not seen any money from the Bohemian Rhapsody movie because of tricky Hollywood accounting. If true...that's gotta hurt! |
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Post by akirafish on May 30, 2023 12:50:16 GMT
Can't believe a North America only deal could amount to 1.1 billion.
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Post by primejiveusa on May 30, 2023 13:25:35 GMT
Can't believe a North America only deal could amount to 1.1 billion. And I guess Disney gets all of it...Queen don't make any money from the sale. Can you imagine how galling that would be? It sounds like Queen made a horrible deal with Disney in 1990. |
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on May 31, 2023 6:03:33 GMT
Back in 1990 Disney's Hollywood records bought the entire back catalogue from Elekra and Capitol records with execption GH, that was something which would settle in early 00s. Queen also gave their rights for a huge amount for that time 10m.
By 1996 the company revenue 150m, however in the that period Hollywood records had many problems and changed CEO. Queen probably in later years renewed their contract.
Disney company has a policy to gain percentage from artists, who were signed to them, even if the artist have changed company, something like football teams. Miley Cyrus is an example.
Universal wants to buy Queen rights worldwide including USA and Canada. So probably Queen productions will not gain anything from USA and Canada , that goes to Disney.
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cigar
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Post by cigar on May 31, 2023 11:18:52 GMT
Hopefully with the sale of their catalogue, it means we'll see huge dumps from their archives... Or, we'll see the death of Queen bootlegs forever. Who knows.
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Post by musicalprostitute on May 31, 2023 13:24:36 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc? I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this. Dylan, Springsteen, and Pink Floyd are among the artists that have also done this recently. In the short term, nothing seems to happen from a public POV. Behind the scenes, all royalty income goes to the investor instead of the writer / performer (the latter only if such royalties are included in the sale). It may well be that creative / licencing decisions are defined in the sale contract, and could therefore be different from artist to artist, but none of them have been willing to talk about it in detail that I've seen. Why not ask Brian? Thanks for this. I guessed that the royalties would go to the investors rather than the artist in a deal such as this but wasn't totally sure. And I have a sneaky feeling that posing such a question to Brian via email may not elicit a response! |
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Post by musicalprostitute on May 31, 2023 13:25:25 GMT
Does anyone here have any knowledge on what this kind of deal would mean in the long run? Would Queen lose all control of the songs? I would assume if they sell their catalogue that they would no longer have a say in any of the re-releases, etc? I am a total ignoramus when it comes to these kind of deals, so have no idea what happens in situations such as this. The sale/'acquisition' has been announced on Blabbermouth today; it is stated within that the deal turns over ownership of Queen's songs from Disney to Universal in North America (U.S. and Canada) only, as the 3 living Group Members and Freddie's estate reportedly own equal shares in Queen Productions Ltd. which owns the Group's recordings outside of N. America.
Someone posted a comment below the article stating that the Group will not profit from the sale, as they don't have ownership of their recordings within the Jurisdiction that the sale is taking place.
Ted
Cheers for the info! |
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billy
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Post by billy on Jun 2, 2023 5:05:49 GMT
From Variety:
How Real Is Queen’s ‘Billion-Dollar Catalog Deal’?
I had no idea they’d already sold the North American rights to Disney. Guess that serves me right for not having bought any of the 2011 reissues. Everything I’ve bought since then must have been an import. Either that or now that I’m old I don’t read and obsess over every little detail on the album. in the booklet. |
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billy
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Post by billy on Jun 2, 2023 22:35:49 GMT
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